Page 30 - Tallinna Ülikool

AFTERWORD
Estonians have had di erent concerns about mires over time. ere have been times when mires were considered dangerous and hostile places where you could be in peril. Mires were not known and people kept away from them. Mires separated villages and sent the frost to the elds. But there was opportunity
to hide yourself from enemies in
mires, and mires prevented the enemy forces from conquering the land. In recent centuries, mires have become agricultural land and woodland, or sites for peat extraction. Managed mires have become damaged areas that are neither natural nor manageable.
Finally, it has become clear that the drainage of mires causes a large number of environmental problems, both for natural habitats and species, and for humans, including the ampli cation
of climate problems. It has also been understood that mires are emotionally important to people and that naturalness and the extent of mires is decreasing.
All this has led to understanding that used mires should be returned to nature in such a way that they are accepted by nature. ere are many peatlands in Estonia that we can help to become more natural. is can be done.
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TEN REASONS TO RESTORE ESTONIAN MIRES / 2019
Marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza baltica)
in Sinialliku spring fen, Lääne-Virumaa L. Truus